Public health units sound alarm as food insecurity rises in area households
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Published Jul 28, 2026•Last updated 36 minutes ago•2 minute readHuron Perth Public Health (Handout)Public health units across the region, including Grey-Bruce, are sounding the alarm when it comes to the growing number of households struggling to afford basic needs, including food. In 2024, public health data showed that one in four households in Southwestern Ontario experienced household food insecurity, meaning they did not have reliable access to enough food due to financial challenges. Rising housing and living costs force many individuals and families to make difficult choices between paying rent and buying groceries. Recommended Videos“Food insecurity impacts people at every stage of life in Huron-Perth,” said Miriam Klassen, the local unit’s medical officer of health. “Local trends show that affordability is becoming more of a challenge, leaving many households struggling to keep up. Long-term solutions will require a focus on income and financial stability. ”Household food insecurity is linked to poorer physical and mental health, higher risk of chronic disease and increased pressure on the healthcare system. Among children and youth, it impacts concentration, memory, mood and motor skills, making it harder to succeed in school. Stay connected to the news in your community. Get our free newsletter every Monday, Wednesday and Friday at noon. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder. The next issue of Sun Times Extra will soon be in your inbox. We encountered an issue signing you up. Please try again“More people across our region are being forced to make difficult choices about which basic needs they can afford — and too often, food is one of the first things cut,” said Dr. Ninh Tran, the medical officer of health for Southwestern public health, which encompasses Oxford and Elgin counties and the city of St. Thomas. “That has real consequences for physical and mental health. Addressing household food insecurity means ensuring people have enough income to meet their basic needs. ”Many households rely on emergency food programs or face impossible trade-offs, such as skipping meals, officials said. While many low- and modest-income households face challenges after covering housing and other essential costs, individuals on social assistance programs such asOntario Works often cannot afford both rent and food, even with careful spending. Ontario public health units monitor food affordability by comparing the costs of food and rent to various household income scenarios. In 2024, these scenarios showed that a single adult receiving Ontario Works in Southwestern Ontario can’t afford both food and rent, facing a monthly deficit ranging from $301 to $859, depending on location. Many other households with low and modest incomes face similar challenges, officials added, with little or no income remaining after covering rent and other essential expenses such as transportation, utilities, childcare, clothing and medications. WHAT NEEDS TO CHANGE?Household food insecurity is a serious but preventable public health issue, officials stressed, and addressing it requires co-ordinated action at the municipal, provincial, and federal levels. Public health units across Southwestern Ontario support solutions that acknowledge that the root cause of household food insecurity is inadequate income. They proposed several measures:Increase social assistance rates, including Ontario Works;Improve income supports for low- and modest-income households; andImplement policies that reduce the cost of housing and essential living expenses. In June 2026, the Association of Local Public Health Agencies passed a resolution recommending that the Ontario government enhance the Ontario Works (OW) benefit, for example, by aligning the OW earned income exemption with the higher earned income exemption for the Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP). cosmith@postmedia. comJoin the ConversationThis website uses cookies to personalize your content (including ads), and allows us to analyze our traffic. Read more aboutcookies here. By continuing to use our site, you agree to ourTerms of UseandPrivacy Policy.